Musician-turned-YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyuk Suk was acquitted on Thursday, December 22, on charges of threatening and blackmailing an informant in a move to block a drug scandal investigation.
The not-guilty verdict was revealed by the Seoul Central District Court, claiming that there was no sufficient evidence that the entertainment agency CEO had directly blackmailed the drug scandal whistleblower during the 2016 investigation regarding BIGBANG’s T.O.P for allegedly smoking marijuana.
According to the recent court ruling, “It seems that Yang Hyun Suk tried to persuade and pressure the victim to reverse her statement, which is worthy of criticism.”
But the court also mentioned that the victim reversed her statement numerous times. Moreover, she also seemed to anticipate monetary compensation, making her less credible.
“The victim, although she said that she was scared, contacted [Yang Hyun Suk] in a friendly way and voluntarily informed him of the situation as she reversed her statements, and she repeatedly smoked marijuana with a member of BIGBANG,” the court stated. “It is difficult to understand why she continued providing drugs to the YG group member. [Thus,] it is difficult to conclude that she felt fear to the extent that her freedom to make decisions was violated.”
Due to the controversy, Yang Hyun Suk resigned from his post as YG Entertainment CEO in June 2019.
Source: The Korea Times
